TANAH JAMBU, Sunday, 24 November 2024 – The opening of the Regional Jungle Warfare Symposium (RJWS) 2024 was officiated by Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) in a ceremony held at the Defence Academy, RBAF in Tanah Jambu. Also in attendance were Her Excellency Alexandra McKenzie, British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, Services and Acting Service Commander, Acting Joint Force Commander, Defence Advisers and Defence Attachés accredited to Brunei Darussalam, Directors, Commandants and invited guests. Co-hosted by the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF) and the British Forces Brunei (BFB), the RJWS 2024 is scheduled to take place from 24 to 26 November 2024 with the theme “Enhancing Survivability Through Training and Technology".
The Commander of the RBAF in his speech highlighted that the jungle environments pose significant challenges, requiring physical endurance and mental resilience, as well as tactical expertise. He then stated on the technological advancements that have the potential to transform warfare and the need to improve the forces' survivability through training and the applications of smart technologies. He also added that such symposium significantly contributes to further enhance defence diplomacy, while providing crucial platform for fostering strong trust-based relationships among participating countries.
The first session of the symposium featured a presentation by the keynote speaker, Brigadier General Jamie Murray, Commander of the 38th Irish Brigade from the British Army, who delivered a topic entitled “Jungle Operations Manoeuverabiity, Combat and Sustainment". This was followed by question and answer session and presentation of memento by the RBAF Commander to the keynote speaker. Subsequently, the second keynote speaker in the following session of the symposium presented a topic titled “Training to Fight and Sustain in Jungle Warfare" by Lieutenant Colonel Infantry Laode Muhammad Idrus, Commandant Infantry Battalion 433 from the Army Strategic Reserve Command, Indonesian National Army. The ceremony concluded with presentation of memento to the second keynote speaker by the Commander of RBLF, Brigadier General Haji Mohammad Shanonnizam bin Sulaiman, who presided over the second session.
The RJWS was first inaugurated in 2017 with the aim to promote Brunei Darussalam as a Centre of Excellence for Jungle Warfare. It also serves as a platform to build cooperation in the area of information exchange and to promote future collaborations in training and multilateral exercises amongst participating countries. This year's RJWS involved a participation of 17 countries namely Australia, the Kingdom of Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Kingdom of Cambodia, French Republic, Republic of Indonesia, Japan, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
MAJLIS PEMBUKAAN SIMPOSIUM PEPERANGAN HUTAN SERANTAU 2024
TANAH JAMBU, Ahad, 24 November 2024 – Pembukaan Simposium Peperangan Hutan Serantau (Regional Jungle Warfare Symposium, RJWS) 2024 telah dirasmikan oleh Mejar Jeneral Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, Pemerintah Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB) dalam majlis yang diadakan di Akademi Pertahanan ABDB, Tanah Jambu. Turut hadir ialah Puan Yang Terutama Alexandra McKenzie, Pesuruhjaya Tinggi British ke Negara Brunei Darussalam, Pemerintah-pemerintah dan Pemangku Pemerintah Angkatan Tentera, Pemangku Pemerintah Angkatan Bersama, Penasihat-penasihat dan Atase-atase Pertahanan yang diakreditasi ke Negara Brunei Darussalam, Pengarah-pengarah, Komandan-komandan dan para jemputan. RJWS 2024 dijadualkan berlangsung dari 24 hingga 26 November 2024, dihoskan bersama oleh Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei (TDDB) dan Angkatan Tentera British. Tema tahun ini ialah “Enhancing Survivability Through Training and Technology".
Tentera TDDB dalam ucapannya menekankan bahawa persekitaran hutan menimbulkan cabaran besar yang memerlukan ketahanan fizikal dan mental, serta kepakaran taktikal. Beliau seterusnya menyampaikan tentang kemajuan teknologi yang berpotensi mengubah peperangan dan perlunya untuk meningkatkan ikhtiar hidup anggota tentera melalui latihan dan aplikasi teknologi pintar. Beliau turut menambah bahawa simposium seumpamanya menyumbang dalam meningkatkan diplomasi pertahanan, disamping menyediakan platform signifikan untuk memupuk hubungan berasaskan kepercayaan di kalangan negara-negara yang ikut serta.
Sesi pertama simposium menampilkan pembentangan oleh penceramah undangan, Brigedier Jeneral Jamie Murray, Commander of the 38th Irish Brigade dari Tentera Darat British, yang menyampaikan topik bertajuk “Jungle Operations Manoeuverabiity, Combat and Sustainment". Ini diikuti dengan sesi soal jawab dan penyampaian cenderahati oleh Pemerintah ABDB kepada penceramah undangan. Seterusnya, penceramah kedua bagi sesi berikutnya membentangkan topik bertajuk “Training to Fight and Sustain in Jungle Warfare" oleh Leftenan Kolonel Infantri Laode Muhammad Idrus, Komandan Batalion Infantri 433 dari Komando Cadangan Strategis Angkatan Darat, Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Darat. Majlis diakhiri dengan penyampaian cenderahati kepada penceramah kedua oleh Pemerintah TDDB, Brigedier Jeneral Haji Mohammad Shanonnizam bin Sulaiman, yang hadir bagi sesi kedua.
RJWS mula dirasmikan pada 2017 dengan tujuan untuk mempromosikan Negara Brunei Darussalam sebagai Pusat Kecemerlangan bagi Peperangan Hutan. Ianya juga berperanan sebagai platform untuk membina kerjasama dalam bidang pertukaran maklumat dan menggalakkan kolaborasi di masa depan dalam latihan dan eksesais pelbagai hala di kalangan negara-negara yang turut serta. Tahun ini melibatkan penyertaan 17 buah negara iaitu Australia, Kerajaan Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Kerajaan Kemboja, Republik Perancis, Republik Indonesia, Jepun, Kerajaan Hasyimiah Jordan, Republik Demokratik Rakyat Lao, Malaysia, New Zealand, Republik Filipina, Republik Singapura, Kerajaan Thailand, United Kingdom, Amerika Syarikat dan Republik Sosialis Vietnam.
